chai tea – for those long January days when you just can’t shake the cold

So that’s when I fire up the burner on the stove, boil some water and add some of my favorite spices for a satisfying (and warming) homemade version of Chai Tea.

NOTE: If you’ve had Chai Tea from a coffee shop, it’s likely a pre-mixed blend. Maybe it’s a syrup. Or a powder. Or maybe they use a Tazo tea bag and add milk. Whatever the case, when you taste a home-made Chai, there’s a good chance you’ll never go back to your coffee shop for tea.

Seriously.

It’s that good.

First things first … invest in a tea strainer. It doesn’t have to be fancy. This one was at World Market and cost about $6.99. We use it all the time (not only for hot tea, but for kombucha, too)

And second … here are some of the common spices used in Chai tea. It’s just about finding the balance and mixture that you like best.

Ginger is known for it’s anti-inflammatory properties, ginger will also warm you! from the inside out. It soothes the tummy. And ginger is supposed to boost the effectiveness of other herbs and spices, so if I have ginger in the house, it makes its way into almost any tea that I brew up.

Cardamom is a natural mood elevator (actually, I just have to smell cardamom and I start to feel better … especially on a “blue” day). It’s also supposed to have a positive affect on the lungs, kidneys and heart.

BlackPeppercorns are good for your circulation and in the Ayurvedic tradition are said to help alleviate chronic coldness! Also, like ginger, peppercorns are supposed to enhance the healing traits of other spices and herbs.

Clovesare so fragrant and wonderful. I just can’t imagine Chai tea without them. And they are apparently used as a pain reliever in Eastern Medicines.

Anise Seedsare, like cloves, super aromatic. Their subtle licorice scent adds a luscious layer to the tea and I love how it just makes the tea smell “warm.” Do you know what I mean? And from a traditional medicines standpoint, anise seeds are used as a digestive, as an expectorant and to help reduce anxiety. Like … the anxiety that comes from being constantly cold?

Star Anise(is not related to anise seeds, but also has a licorice aroma/flavor) is a wonderful digestive aid. It’s been used for ages for nursing mamas who need to increase their supply. And midwives through the ages have suggested that war anise can aid in the health of female reproductive organs.

Fennelis related to anise seeds, and have some of the same medicinal traits. It’s also used to aid digestion (it’s a diuretic), and like Star Anise, it’s used to increase milk production for nursing mamas. It’s anti-bacterial. And it helps alleviate bad breath. It also adds some nice flavor to your chai tea … especially if you don’t have anise seeds or star anise in your cupboard.

Nutmegcan help you relax, and is so good for detoxing your liver and kidneys. It helps cure stomachaches. And just a whiff makes me joyful. It’s no wonder it shows up in all those holiday treats!

Black (or green or oolong) Tea Bags– the tea in these tea bags help “activate” the goodness in the spices and herbs in the tea. I use PG Tips … mostly because an English friend turned me onto PG Tips and I like to pretend sometimes that I was British in another life … plus it’s really tasty tea.

Don’t be afraid to experiment … it’s your tea.

Here’s what went into my tea today (makes about 4 quarts … I store leftover in a 1/2 gallon glass jar and put it in the fridge to heat up as I want it. Lasts about 5 days in the fridge):

INGREDIENTS:

4-5 thin slices Ginger

8-9 pods Cardamom

30-35 Black Peppercorns

20-25 Cloves

½ teaspoon Anise Seed

2 black tea bags

2 tablespoons milk (optional)

1/2 teaspoon honey or maple syrup (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Pour three quarts of water into your 4-quart sauce pan. Add the spices to your tea strainer and add the tea strainer to the water. Bring to a boil. Once it reaches a rolling boil, lower the heat to let it simmer for a good 20-30 minutes. Then, turn the heat off and add your tea bags. Let the tea bags steep for about 5-10 minutes.

Pour tea into your favorite cup (mine is adorned with stars and the sun and moon … see above :), add honey and milk and feel the warmth spread through your entire body … head to toe!

There’s a reason people have been turning to Ayurvedic healing for thousands of years … and I believe Chai Tea is it 🙂

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I'm Jeanne, a transplanted Montana mama doing my best (along with my Cowboy honey and our two not-so-little wild-things) to build a happy, healthy, wholesome and sustainable life for our family and the future.

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I hope you find the information at O’Mamas interesting and thought provoking. My goal is to share family friendly recipes, ideas for simplifying and living a more sustainable life. It is not meant to give medical advice or to make any health claims on the prevention or curing of diseases. I am not a medical professional. I'm just moms, sharing my own experiences and ideas. Please consult your own, qualified health care professional before making changes to your diet or exercise regime.

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